Since so many of us enjoy a dinner from the grill, here's an easy and tasty marinade recipe to love. I see two big advantages to having a go-to marinade recipe. The first is that marinating chicken or steak or fish or shrimp forces us to have a plan for dinner hours ahead of time - when marinating ideally begins. The second is that having a trusted recipe on hand erases the worry of how the final flavor will turn out -- it's always a big success. Here is a marinade that fits just about everything that's a protein food. For veggies, it works as a delicious brush-on-when-grilling … [Read more...] about A Tasty Little Marinade for Chicken, Steak, Seafood and Veggies
Seafood Cooks Quickly and Tastes Great
As a nutrition professional, I've encouraged a lot of people to eat fish and shellfish and I hope that I've succeeded. Seafood is a top choice for a burst of delicious protein at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here is a list of how some fish compare to other high protein foods like meat, poultry, dairy foods, and beans/legumes. Think about dinner with seafood, for example, and brainstorm all your options. Chances are that you'll discover it's easier and quicker to cook seafood than chicken, beef, pork, or a bowl of spaghetti. Wouldn't that be great? How to Cook Fresh Fish and … [Read more...] about Seafood Cooks Quickly and Tastes Great
Sweet Red Peppers and 3 Ways to Enjoy Them
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the sweet red peppers of Spain! Then I started seeing these beauties in every vegetable market and grocery store I visited around Salamanca, where I'm living this fall. Sweet red peppers are called 'Pimientos' in Spanish and I'm learning that they are a very important ingredient in every Spanish kitchen, restaurant, and tapas bar. How to Use Sweet Red Peppers - 3 Ways The natural sweetness of Spanish pimientos - sweet red peppers - brings bright flavors to all kinds of things. Here are a few examples: Wash, cut into strips and dip into … [Read more...] about Sweet Red Peppers and 3 Ways to Enjoy Them
Cooking in a New Kitchen
It takes determination and desire to break-in a new kitchen and the results are definitely worth it. My Cooking Mistakes While living in northwest Spain this fall, I'm finding out that cooking in a new kitchen is not so easy. I've already made a ton of mistakes like these: Letting the rice boil over and make a mess Burning part of the eggplant I was trying to sauté Measuring the salt incorrectly, without a proper measuring spoon Running out of eggs when I wanted to make a Spanish Tortilla Omelet Missing the spices I needed to make a chickpea burger … [Read more...] about Cooking in a New Kitchen
5 Steps to Easy Grilled Vegetables
Grilling vegetables doesn't have to be hard, messy or time consuming. The smart and easy way to grill vegetables is a 5-step process: Decide which vegetables you want to grill Buy the vegetables, wash in cold water, cut about 1/2 inch thick Brush with good quality extra virgin olive oil on both sides Place on the grill, pre-heated to medium Cook for 2-5 minutes, flip over, cook for 2-5 more minutes When you are the grill cook, pay attention to which vegetables you are using because some are more watery (for example, mushrooms, zucchini and eggplant) and others … [Read more...] about 5 Steps to Easy Grilled Vegetables
Balancing Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Butter
As a dietitian, I get a lot of questions about fat and I appreciate every question. Fat seems to be one of the most misunderstood nutrients there is. So, this blog reviews facts about olive oil and butter to give you information and confidence that you are 'in balance.' Quick Olive Oil Facts: A fat that comes from grinding and pressing whole olives A pure 100% fat with no protein or carbohydrates, and about 100 calories per tablespoon A 'liquid fat' with about 3/4 monounsaturated fat A delicious flavor enhancer with a baked potato, scrambled egg, or slice of bread A fat that … [Read more...] about Balancing Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Butter